Tomorrow People episode 9 review: Sci-fi ends 2013 with solid finale

The Tomorrow People impressed last week with its strongest episode yet and at the time I commented how 'Thanatos' felt like a mid-season finale, "holding nothing back and leaving the viewer desperate for more".

It's unfortunate then that winter finale 'Death's Door' - while a perfectly serviceable episode - doesn't match its predecessor and so suffers in comparison.

That said, one of the episode's biggest positives - and indeed of this show's strongest assets in general - is its cast. In particular, Robbie Amell - an uneven performer - gives a series best turn here, as Stephen's emotional quest to find his father comes to a crisis point.

Luke Mitchell is also excellent as John - who last week hit rock bottom - gets his redemption, as we learn that the man who robbed Stephen of his father is now ironically the only person who can reunite them.

Mark Pellegrino's Jedikiah meanwhile continues his pleasing transformation from rather one-note villain to more nuanced anti-hero, even teaming with the Tomorrow People against Simon Merrells's brilliantly cartoonish menace, The Founder.

While 'Death's Door' is not as spectacular as 'Thanatos' - with a rather flat cliffhanger ending in place of the previous episode's absolute jaw-dropper - another point in the episode's favor is that it contains a number of exciting teasers as to where The Tomorrow People might be heading next year.

As the show has progressed, Stephen's domestic life - his time spent at home and at high school - felt less and less important and you found yourself yearning for our lead to abandon his 'human' life to hang underground full-time.

The 'family gathering' and farewell to Astrid (Madeleine Mantock) that closes 'Death's Door' at least hints that the show might be heading more in this direction, while The Founder's talk of Stephen's "ultimate purpose" with Ultra also intrigues.

So while The Tomorrow People doesn't end 2013 with the fireworks I'd been hoping for, the series has definitely evolved - no pun intended - across its nine episodes. It's a work-in-progress, but - like its sister series Arrow before it - this tale of Homo Superior is slowly but surely finding its way and is on a solid footing for 2014.

Gotta make way for the homo superior...- Stephen loves Cara, who loves him but also loves John, who's now attracting the attentions of Astrid, who's in love with Stephen - with this love pentagon, The CW has outdone itself.- "It happened because I could never be with you - not all the way!" Cara tells John. Well, you certainly went all the way with Stephen, girl.- Is it just me that thinks Stephen's mother Marla knows more than she's letting on? Or is it just I'm used to seeing actress Sarah Clarke play 24 super-villainess Nina Myers?- Original Tomorrow People star Nicholas Young once again brings a little gravitas to proceedings as the distinguished Aldus Crick - what a shame that he's unceremoniously offed here. Any chance he's stuck in limbo too?